Option 1 (My Recommendation): Plain Water ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
For most fruits and vegetables:
- Hold under cool running water.
- Rub firmly with your hands for 20–30 seconds.
- For potatoes, carrots, cucumbers, melons, etc., use a vegetable brush.
This is what the FDA and USDA recommend.
Option 2: Baking Soda Wash ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This has some evidence for helping remove certain pesticide residues from the surface of produce.
Recipe
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 4 cups (1 quart) cool water
Directions
- Soak produce for 12–15 minutes.
- Rub gently.
- Rinse well under running water.
This works well for:
- Apples
- Grapes
- Bell peppers
- Tomatoes
- Cucumbers
Option 3: White Vinegar Wash ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
Good for removing dirt and some surface microbes.
Recipe
- 1 part white vinegar
- 3 parts water
Soak 5–10 minutes, then rinse thoroughly. Vinegar can slightly affect the flavor of delicate fruits if they’re soaked too long.
Option 4: Lemon + Baking Soda ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
Some people like this because it deodorizes produce and may help loosen wax.
Recipe
- 1 quart water
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
Soak for 10–15 minutes, then rinse well.
For our diet
Since we eat lots of:
- broccoli
- leafy greens
- potatoes
- apples
- berries
- bananas
I’d use:
- Baking soda wash for apples, potatoes, cucumbers, peppers, and other firm produce.
- Plain running water for bananas (just rinse the peel before opening), broccoli, and most leafy greens.
- A salad spinner after washing greens to remove excess water.
Commercial washes like Harvest Pure are convenient, but they’re generally not necessary. A box of baking soda costs only a few dollars and can make many gallons of produce wash.
Will it completely remove Apeel?
Apeel is designed to **adhere tightly to the surface** of fruits and vegetables to slow moisture loss and oxidation. Because it’s meant to stay on during normal washing, neither of these will reliably remove it:
* Plain water
* Baking soda solution
* Vinegar solution
* Commercial produce washes like Harvest Pure
You may remove **some** of the coating by:
* Scrubbing firm produce (such as apples or cucumbers) with a vegetable brush under running water.
* Peeling the produce, which removes the coating along with the peel.
If avoiding Apeel is important to you, the most reliable approach is to:
* Buy produce that is **not treated with Apeel**.
* Ask the store whether specific produce has an edible coating.
* Look for produce labeled as untreated, when available.
Grocery chains that have stated or reported they **do not currently carry Apeel-treated produce**
* Costco – Costco’s customer service states it is **not currently purchasing items with Apeel**. ([Costco Customer Service][1])
* Trader Joe’s – Reportedly no longer sources Apeel-treated produce, though it has not published a formal company-wide policy. ([Ivy Herbal][2])
* Sprouts Farmers Market – Reportedly decided not to carry Apeel-treated produce. ([Ivy Herbal][2])
* Whole Foods Market – Says its global produce team does not purchase Apeel-treated produce, although it cannot guarantee every regional supplier. ([Ivy Herbal][2])
Grocery chains with **mixed or uncertain** sourcing
* Walmart – Says its **private-label produce is not Apeel-treated**, but it cannot certify produce from all outside brands. ([Ivy Herbal][2])
* Kroger (including Ralphs, Smith’s, Fry’s, etc.) – States its own private-label produce is not Apeel-treated but cannot guarantee all national brands. ([Ivy Herbal][2])
* ALDI – No clear company-wide policy has been published. ([Ivy Herbal][2])
* Albertsons (including Vons and Safeway) – No blanket public policy. ([Ivy Herbal][2])
Since I know we:
* eat mostly whole plant foods,
* buy lots of fresh produce,
* and like to keep costs low,
I’d suggest this shopping order:
1. **Costco** (when practical)
2. **Trader Joe’s**
3. **Sprouts**
4. **Whole Foods** (if prices fit our budget)
5. Other stores, while checking labels or asking the produce manager if avoiding Apeel is important to you.
One more tip: if you buy directly from a local farmers market or local grower in your area, the produce is generally less likely to have coatings like Apeel because it spends much less time in the distribution chain, though it’s always reasonable to ask the grower.